Willie, giving him a jocose slap on the back. 

 Nevertheless, in spite of the mandate, Robert Morton lingered. 

 "Do you know, Aunt Tiny, I'm almost ashamed to accept your hospitality," he observed with winning sincerity.  "We've all been so rotten to you—never coming to see you or anything. Dad's terribly cut up that he hasn't made a single trip East since leaving Wilton." 

 The honest confession instantly quenched the last smouldering embers of Celestina's resentment toward her kin. 

 "Don't think no more of it!" she returned hurriedly.  "Your father's been busy likely, an' so have you; an' anyhow, men ain't much on follerin' up their relations, or writin' to 'em. So don't say another word about it. I'm sure I've hardly given it a thought." 

 That the final assertion was false Robert Morton read in the woman's brave attempt to control the pitiful little quiver of her lips; nevertheless he blessed her for her deception. 

 "You're a dear, Aunt Tiny," he exclaimed heartily, stooping to kiss her cheek.  "Had I dreamed half how nice you were, wild horses couldn't have kept me away from Wilton." 

 Celestina blushed with pleasure. 

 Very pretty she looked standing there in the window, her shoulders encircled by the arm of the big fellow who, towering above her, looked down into her eyes so affectionately. Willie couldn't but think as he saw her what a mother she would have made for some boy. Possibly something of the same regret crossed Celestina's own mind, for a shadow momentarily clouded her brow, and to banish it she repeated with resolute gaiety: 

 "Do go straight out an' bring in that suit case, Bob, or some straggler may steal it. An' put out of your mind any notion of goin' to Boston for the present. I'll show you which room you're to have so'st you can unpack your things, an' while you're washin' up I'll get you some breakfast. You ain't had none, have you?" 

 "No; but really, Aunt Tiny, I'm not—" 

 "Yes, you are. Don't think it's any trouble for it ain't—not a mite." 

 Willie beamed with good will. 

 "You've landed just in time to set down with us," he remarked.  "We ain't had our breakfast, either." 

 Prev. P 30/181 next